Zoonoses disease-poxvirus zoonoses, Biology

Poxvirus zoonosesNaturally occurring poxvirus infections affect humans and many species of animals and insects. However, for most part, poxviruses other than variola cause self-limited disease in immunocompetent humans. Several ruminant and primate poxviruses rarely cause human illness. However, risk of humans getting infection with animal poxviruses is significant with the increase in human population which is naively susceptible to smallpox after stoppage of vaccination. Wild rodents are thought to be principal reservoir for these viruses, although many species act as incidental hosts and expose humans to infection. Human-to-human transmission of most animal poxviruses is rare. However, there had been confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission for monkey pox virus while suspicions for human-to-human transmission of buffalo pox virus